Has Shelepen FORMALLY withdrawn? Remember, Japan is 14 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time. Though it's still November 8th in the US, it's 1 pm on November 9th in Japan.

Russia may have a strategy in delaying the announcement of Shelepen's withdrawal. If they wait until the replacement period is too short, that could enhance Sotnikova's and Tuktamysheva's chances of making it to the GPF because that would take Osmond's 15 points out of play.

Even if Shelepen does withdraw and Japan names a replacement, it wouldn't necessarily be Osmond. Nagasu, of Japanese parentage, is very popular in Japan and she's been on top of the replacement list from the getgo.

The ISU NHK Ladies roster and the LADIES pdf listing still do not show Shelepen as withdrawn. A report in a Russian newspaper does not make it an official withdrawal---only the Russian federation can do that, and apparently they have not done so as yet.

Too bad for Osmond. And for the poster(s) who think it is scandalous Osmond won SC I can see many reasons for a win by Suzuki however it was not clear cut. Besides perhaps we have had far too many "scandalous" results depending on your point of view or scores and I can guarantee you someone else will say the win or placement was deserved - we will all never agree - that's the only agreement we might have.

Has Shelepen FORMALLY withdrawn? Remember, Japan is 14 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time. Though it's still November 8th in the US, it's 1 pm on November 9th in Japan.

Russia may have a strategy in delaying the announcement of Shelepen's withdrawal. If they wait until the replacement period is too short, that could enhance Sotnikova's and Tuktamysheva's chances of making it to the GPF because that would take Osmond's 15 points out of play.

Even if Shelepen does withdraw and Japan names a replacement, it wouldn't necessarily be Osmond. Nagasu, of Japanese parentage, is very popular in Japan and she's been on top of the replacement list from the getgo.

After her CoR disaster, Sotnikova is more or less done. We'll see how Tukta does at TEB next week, but I wouldn't count on Japan giving Osmond a second GP even if Shelepen does withdraw. Nagasu is the obvious choice.

After her CoR disaster, Sotnikova is more or less done. We'll see how Tukta does at TEB next week, but I wouldn't count on Japan giving Osmond a second GP even if Shelepen does withdraw. Nagasu is the obvious choice.

I find it impossible to believe that Sotnikova is "done" because she had one bad competition. Federations spend YEARS and hundreds of thousand of dollars getting a skater to this point. You don't write all of that off because she had one bad event.

Skate Canada is lobbying furiously to get Osmond a second spot, and I seriously doubt that the Japanese are all THAT worried about her. I expect she will get the NHK spot because of this. I do think this was to be Nagasu's second spot but her poor showings so far this season give the USFSA no reason to go to bat for her. Mirai has no one to blame but herself. She doesn't seem to have the heart any more.

The Japanese cannot fill Shelepen's spot because as of today, Russia has not announced Polina's withdrawal. Until Russia does that, there IS no vacancy. And as we are well past the 2-week period when a vacant spot must be filled, by the time Russia makes the announcement, it will be too late and the spot will go unfilled.

I find it impossible to believe that Sotnikova is "done" because she had one bad competition. Federations spend YEARS and hundreds of thousand of dollars getting a skater to this point. You don't write all of that off because she had one bad event.

Skate Canada is lobbying furiously to get Osmond a second spot, and I seriously doubt that the Japanese are all THAT worried about her. I expect she will get the NHK spot because of this. I do think this was to be Nagasu's second spot but her poor showings so far this season give the USFSA no reason to go to bat for her. Mirai has no one to blame but herself. She doesn't seem to have the heart any more.

You misunderstand. I meant that she's done in terms of hoping to qualify for the GPF, which chuckm was mentioning. Goodness, if we wrote skaters off for one poor showing, we'd have nothing to watch

The Japanese cannot fill Shelepen's spot because as of today, Russia has not announced Polina's withdrawal. Until Russia does that, there IS no vacancy. And as we are well past the 2-week period when a vacant spot must be filled, by the time Russia makes the announcement, it will be too late and the spot will go unfilled.

Sh may not even be withdrawing at all. Was it confirmed that she would, or was it just a rumor picked up somewhere?